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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be totally pissed off at not knowing how to solve our 'three car seats in the back seat' dilemma?

53 replies

spad · 12/05/2015 20:59

Can someone please help???!!!

My DH has an older BMW. Is it possible to get three car seats, (for a two year old, soon to be one year old and newborn) in a row in the back seat WITHOUT having to buy that crazy expensive multimac thing?

We have a few weeks before I am due to come up with a solution but we really are running out of time, and don't want to have to spent a heap of money on solving the problem.

tia

OP posts:
LaLyra · 12/05/2015 21:02

We had to go to a halfords with parking super close and basically try every combination of seat they had until they found one that worked.

Hope you get it sorted!

basketofsoftkittens · 12/05/2015 21:05

I cannot get 3 car seats along the back of my 2002 BMW, no matter what i try it does not work and this doesnt include stage 0 or stage 1 car seats. I dont think it is possible.
Sorry

MrsDonovan · 12/05/2015 21:06

In my experience it is possible in most cars depending on the car seats but it's very difficult to get them in :(

Fleecyleesy · 12/05/2015 21:07

Don't know, sounds difficult with the eldest child still only being 2 and therefore having a chunky car seat. Are you anywhere near the in car safety centre in Essex, if not you could call them for advice. If anyone can solve it they can.

Rumandcokeplease · 12/05/2015 21:07

Can't you put the two year old in the front seat and an adult on the back?

wheresthelight · 12/05/2015 21:07

sorry but I suspect not. I had this dilemma with my ford focus and had to swap my car Confused

Justusemyname · 12/05/2015 21:10

Halfords and tell, them what you need and they will try for you.

SocialMediaAddict · 12/05/2015 21:12

We had to buy a Saab 95 estate to get 3 seats across. My DH wouldn't drive a people carrier.

Northernlurker · 12/05/2015 21:16

Do you have two cars? We had two on booster seats and a VW touran and we still had to change one of the boosters when dd3 was born. It's a pita.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 12/05/2015 21:20

Do what LaLyra suggests.

What does BMW say? Some car manufacturers state what models of car seats fit their seats and some seat manufacturers state which cars their seats fit in.

Your ongoing problem will be stage 2-3 seats as they can be wide due to the head/side protection and also because they (obviously) need to fit growing children.

I guess the difference with the multimac thing (although hugely expensive) is that it would work for the next 12 years with no further stress. But... how old is your DH's car?

bluesbaby · 12/05/2015 21:24

Baby in the middle, rear facing, is a good starting point. You won't be able to use isofix for all seats tho.

threegoingonthirty · 12/05/2015 21:25

Newborn in the front if there is no passenger airbag or it turns off. Adult passenger squeezes in between the two child seats.

Stopandlook · 12/05/2015 21:26

We can just about jam three seats in our CRV, but it is easier to have one child in the front and an adult in the middle seat. No way we were buying a new car.

CupidStuntSurvivor · 12/05/2015 21:26

I'd get the passenger seat air bag disabled and put one of the seats there, then whoever would have been there sits in the back.

Whatsonemore · 12/05/2015 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
spad · 12/05/2015 22:12

Thanks everyone. We are miles away from that place in Essex but could go to Halfords and see what they say. I have been so surprised that this is such a hassle!

OP posts:
ArabellaRockerfella · 12/05/2015 22:16

Ww had to buy a new car for this very reason! Ford S-Max!

dontmesswithmytutu · 12/05/2015 22:19

We had a ford mondeo estate and managed it with seat belt extensions which made it easier to buckle the two dc in boosters in once the seats were wedged in place. You can still use them to fix rear facing seats in and the 5 point harness seats but they have to be car make specific. A headache but refused the people carrier or 4x4 route.

Purplepoodle · 12/05/2015 22:20

We brought a zafira as we couldn't find 3 car seats to fit

threegoingonthirty · 12/05/2015 22:27

In car safety centre in Milton Keynes will give you definitive advice and will talk to you on the phone.

MagicAlwaysLeadsToTrouble · 12/05/2015 22:39

How do you fit 3 in a zafira though?

Scholes34 · 12/05/2015 22:47

It was one in the front and two in the back until we bought a Peugeot 406.

Ihateparties · 12/05/2015 22:57

Two joie tilts and a joie gemm infant carrier fit in my hyundai i10. The tilt is the narrowest group 1 seat I could find that also gives some extended rear facing time (not loads but 2-2.5 as oppose to turning ff at 1yr). The britax babysafe is a good infant carrier that fits well in tighter spaces because of where the handle is located.

We also have a seat Ibiza, we've had a lot of different seats in that over time. The high back boosters are sort of tricker with the belt fastening but there's a fair few more compact ones - britax adventure, Jane montecarlo, halfords own brand etc.

ByeFelicia · 12/05/2015 23:16

Now that we have our Citroen Grand C4 Picasso we can easily fit three seats in the second row.

lougle · 12/05/2015 23:16

The Brittax prince is the narrowest 9mth-4 year car seat. We could get 2 of those plus a group 0+ across a Ford Mondeo.